| 08:30 |
Arrival of participants and morning coffee |
| 09:00 |
Opening remarks
Saša Bavec, Chair of the CER Partnership Board
Ana Struna Bregar, CEO, CER Partnership |
| 09:15 |
Sustainable Sustainability: Why ESG Is Not Enough
Rajeev Peshawaria, CEO, Stewardship Asia Center, Singapore, and President, Leadership Energy Consulting, USA
Rajeev Peshawaria will present how companies, in times of crises, inequality and climate challenges, can turn the burden of ESG requirements into opportunities for growth. His talk will draw on research and cases from more than 100 companies, demonstrating that long-term success stems from linking profit with purpose. He will introduce a practical “playbook” from his bestseller Sustainable Sustainability, offering organizations an open model for growth, innovation and resilience in the 21st century. |
| 10:00 |
The Circular Business Revolution
Julia Binder, Professor of Sustainable Innovation, IMD Business School Lausanne, and Director, Center for Sustainable and Inclusive Business (tbc) |
| 10:20 |
Why Sustainability Starts with Yourself
Saša Bavec, Chair of the CER Partnership Board
Saša Bavec will highlight why personal resilience is key to sustainability-oriented organizations and how inner transformation of leaders must become the foundation of sustainability strategies. The session will stress sustainability as an issue of business alignment and show how authentic commitment leads to authentic leadership, greater organizational resilience, and long-term value. |
| 10:40 |
From Sustainability Steps to Strategic Transformation
Zdravka Zalar, Owner, Smartis
Zdravka Zalar will share how Smartis recognized sustainability as a business opportunity and transformed it into a new strategic direction. By integrating circularity into its business model and developing projects for greater innovation and efficiency, Smartis demonstrates that sustainability is not an obligation but a driver of growth and long-term competitiveness. |
| 11:00 |
COFFEE BREAK |
| 11:30 |
Circular Models That Push Business Boundaries
Walter Sattlberger, Deputy Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Münzer Bioindustrie
Walter Sattlberger will illustrate how the circular economy can grow beyond local frameworks and evolve into a global business model. Using Münzer’s transformation from a waste oil collector to an international renewable fuels and resources company, he will highlight the key drivers of growth and resilience. |
| 11:45 |
Climate Challenges as a Lever for Growth and Innovation
Inge Huijbrecht, Global Sustainability and Safety Director, Radisson Hotels Group
Inge Huijbrecht will present how Radisson treats climate risks as a strategic opportunity to strengthen resilience and create new value. With concrete examples, she will show how responsible management of water, energy, materials, and supply chains is linked with guest engagement. Special focus will be given to working with small suppliers and using guest satisfaction data as a tool for innovation. |
| 12:00 |
When You Depend on Nature: A Story of Resilience and New Opportunities
Borut Fakin, CEO, Vinakoper
Borut Fakin will explain how Vinakoper systematically and strategically responds to climate change, which increasingly shapes the future of viticulture. By introducing targeted production adjustments and developing new business models and product categories, the company strengthens resilience and creates opportunities beyond wine. |
| 12:15 |
The Sustainability Agenda in Times of Global Challenges and Opportunities
Dalija Delić, Sustainability Expert, Iskraemeco
Dalija Delić will explore how global trends and pressures shape sustainability strategies and why it pays off to respond proactively. The session will emphasize the role of digitalization, innovation, and partnerships in maintaining competitiveness, and offer practical insights into how to communicate the sustainability agenda to stakeholders. |
| 12:30 |
Roundtable: Small Companies, Big Moves Toward an Innovative Future
Primož Zorec, CEO, COGreen
Urška Kolar, CEO, Hotel Plesnik
Sabina Gros, CEO, BTP
Anja Raduha, Sustainability Project Lead, Kisik
Moderator: Meta Pavlin Avdić, Strategy Director, prvi.prvi
The discussion will explore how innovative small companies drive change and open new business opportunities through sustainability. |
| 13:15 |
LUNCH BREAK |
| 14:15 |
From the Inside Out: Responsibility at Every Step of the Value Chain
Urška Butolen, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Hisense Europe
Urška Butolen will present how a commitment to responsibility translates into everyday practice. Through processes, tools, and new supplier standards, Hisense has built a value chain based on trust, transparency, and efficiency. |
| 14:30 |
Circular Design in Practice – From Products to the Supply Chain
IKEA will demonstrate how the transition to circular business is implemented through product development, material sourcing, customer relationships, and supply chain management, showing how circular design principles drive innovation, efficiency, and resilience. |
| 14:45 |
How to Engage Employees in Sustainability?
Saša Vidmar Curk, CSR and Sustainability Advisor, Lidl Slovenia
Saša Vidmar Curk will present the international initiative LidlYOU, connecting over 370,000 employees across 31 countries, with the aim of embedding sustainability into company culture and daily work. |
| 15:00 |
Technology as a Shared Burden
Lan Orthaber, Head of Corporate Communications and Sustainability, A1 Slovenia
Lan Orthaber will explain how A1 addresses the impact of its services on users’ digital habits and why digital overload has become a sustainability issue. |
| 15:15 |
Roundtable: Sustainability at the Leadership Level
Anita Stojčevska, Member of the Management Board, OTP Bank
Arthur Vasarević, Country President, Schneider Electric Western Balkans (tbc)
Matevž Frangež, Secretary General, Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport (tbc)
Moderator: Žiga Čebulj, CER Partnerstvo
The roundtable will reveal how companies can transform sustainability from a compliance cost into a driver of business value. Topics will include integrating sustainability into financial strategy, measuring both visible and invisible returns, and securing support at the highest decision-making levels. |
| 16:00 |
COFFEE BREAK |
| 16:30 |
AWARD CEREMONY: Sustainability Leader & Green Star Certificates |
| 17:30 |
Networking reception |